Citizen Science

Additional Resources

Science is not just for scientists. In our changing world, citizen science can play an important role in answering significant scientific questions. This growing field depends on volunteers who participate in research, monitoring, and data collection to deepen shared knowledge and achieve results that scientists could not accomplish on their own.

At the Arboretum, citizen science is not a new enterprise. For many years volunteers have helped address scientific questions through participation in local, regional, or global projects. Here are some examples:

Arboretum rangers, naturalists, and volunteer stewards monitor phenology following Aldo Leopold’s studies of 1935–46. This enduring practice provides valuable information about seasonal changes in plants and animals, and it continues to address questions about changing climate. In addition, Earth Partnership has phenology curriculum guides for educators.

The Arboretum also participates in the Dragonfly Pond Watch monitoring project, which is part of the Xerces Society Migratory Dragonfly Partnership. Through regular monitoring and centralized reporting, the partnership seeks answers to questions about dragonfly migration and fosters conservation. To get involved, contact Brad Herrick.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey and the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program, also sponsor the Wisconsin Frog and Toad Survey. Its primary purpose is to determine the status, distribution, and long-term population trends of Wisconsin’s twelve frog and toad species.